Jewelry clasp



.Nov. 4, 1958 R. lRlzARRY JEWELRY CLASP Filed Aug. e, 1956 2,858,593 Patented Nov. 4, 1958 JEWELRY CLASP Ralphtlrli'arry, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Mercedes Irizarry, Bronx, N. Y.

Application August 6, 1956, serial No. 602,109

3 Claims: (c1L'z`4'-230)` This invention''relates'l to' jewelryfclasps' such as those usedf for connecting a` chain bra'celet about ones Wrist, or for' connecting. a` string of beads, a pendant,` etc., about the' neck'.

The main object of the present inventionis to provide a generally improved clasp for jewelry that will be characterizedV by its relatively low cost, its simplicity of design, and by its particularly effective locking action adapted to prevent accidental separation of the parts of the clasp whenthe same is in' use.

A moret specific object of the invention isto provide a clasp'that will be particularly easy tov close'or' open, the design ofthe device being such as to permit the closing or opening of the clasp to be carried out without diiiiculty even when the claspcan'not be kept in view' during the operation asy for: example' when it is being closed at the back' of the neck.

Another object of importance is to provide a jewelry claspthatwill be highly simple and attractive in design, thus to be relatively inconspicuous.

Another object of importance is to provide a jewelry clasp' wherein insertion of a male member or springable clasp element; into afemale member or sleeve-like housing will elfect the locking action automatically, with the device' being so designed that said'clasp element, when locked within and by the housing, will be partially recessed in the housing in a position such that an eye on the clasp element within which the end of the chain, necklace, or the like is engaged, will be securely closed to prevent-accidental separation of said chain from the clasp element.

Another object of importance is to provide a'device of the character stated that'will be usablev to advantage in any of various types offjewelry.

Stillanother object' of importance is to form the jewelry clasp in such a manner that it will be of nat formation, will not provide any 'sharp points'that may tend to cause discomfortfto' the wearer, andwill product a locking action which will be eficient at all times.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and adavntages thereof, referencewill be had to the following description and accompanying' drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

in thel accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure: 1

Fig. l isl a View of a jewelry clasp formed according to the present invention, shown partly in longitudinal section and partly in sideelevation, anassociated chain being illustrated fragmentarily.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device in which a users thumb is shown fragmentarily in dotted lines, the clasp element being disengaged from the housing.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig'. 4' is a longitudinal setcion substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. l.

2T Fig. 5 is `an exploded perspective view of the jewelry clasp, the chain being illustrated fragmentarily.

Fig. 6 is' a vieW substantially similar to Fig. 1, showing a modifiedy construction.

Fig. 7 is a vie'wlike Fig. 6 in which the'clas'p element' of the rmodified form has been shifted to' a'n unlocked position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged' transverse' sectional' view' on' line' S'-3 of Fig. 6;

Referring to the drawings `in detail, in thefo'rnil'of'the'" invention shown' in Figs. 1`-5 there is" illustrated an el6n gated, hat, sleeve o'r housing 10. y

The sleeve 10, as mentioned above, is flattened, thuis to provide longitudinal edge pdrt'ion's one' lof which is'4 formed with an' angular notch 12, onewall of which' is.v extendedv obliquely to the' length of the sleeve, the other wall 14 or" the notch being' disposed adjacent'dne end of the sleeve and being extended perpendicularly 'to the length of the sleeve to serve as an abutment.

The sleeve is `originally formed open at both ends, hutl the end' thereof remote' from the notch 12 is closedby an eye 16. The eye 16 is of circular formation, and is welded'as at 17' in the open' en'd" of'the sleeve. Connected to the eye 16 is one end of a` c'ha'in" 18. It will' be understood that the' chain could be'any of various items of jewelry, and infact need' not be of chain formation, the claspbe'i'ng adapted for incorporation in pearl necklaces, charm' bracelets, pendants, etc..

A clasp element has been generally designated at 20,- and is connected to the other end of the eXible body 18 of the piece vof jewelry. The clasp element 20 is formed from' a 'single'lengtli of slightly'springable wire material, one end of s'aid length of wire being formed to a circular shape to provide an' eye 22 connected to said other endl of the lbody portion 18'of the piece of jewelry. The eye 22, at the extremity 24 of the length ofwire, is adapted to be closed more or less permanently, in a manner to be presently made apparent.

The eye' 22'l merges into an elongated straight part 2'6l merging' in' turn' into a' semicircular bight 28 within the housing 1.0, said bight 28 merging into a straightlportion 3d parallel'to the portion 26, the portion'30 atl ther free end thereof being longitudinally curved outwardly as at 32 to provide a' locking finger on the clasp element. It willV be seen', thus, that the clasp element includes a closed eye 22 integral with a U-shaped member 26, 28, 30 that opens toward the eye.

In use' of thecl'asp, initially the clasp element 20 is withdrawn from the housing 10 as shown in Fig.4 5, so thatL the jewelry can be applied to lor removed from theperson. Assuming that the clasp is to he closed, the clasp element 20 is inserted in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5.

The U-shap'ed portion entering the housing moves freely therein until the curved extremity of the free leg 3d of said portion engages against the end edge of the housing. Said end edge cams the portion 32 inwardly, to permit the clasp element to moveto it's'maximum extent into the housing. Eventually, the extremity of the The clasp is now fully closed, and it is important toV note that when the nger 32 is in engagementwith the abutment 14, the end 24 of the eye 22 willfbe disposedwithin the housing, so that under no circumstances" can.

the chain 18 accidentally become detached from the eye 22. In other words, the locking action talres'place only at such time as the eye 22 itself is disposed within the housing to an extent as to wholly close the spreadable part of the eye. This will prevent spreading of the eye due to the fact that the opposite longitudinal edge portions of the housing bear against the eye to prevent the spreading from taking place. A secure lock is thus provided, with the components of the clasp being particularly adapted to resist efforts toward separation, until such time as it is actually desired to separate the clasps. Further, when the clasp is locked, the opposite ends of the chain or other exible jewelry element are securely engaged by eyes 16, 22 against accidental separation from the clasp.

To disengage the device, one slides the nail N of the thumb along the notched longitudinal edge portion of sleeve 10, until the nail enters the notch 12 and slides along the sloped surface thereof toward abutment 14. Pressure under these circumstances will cause the finger 32 to be pressed inwardly, until it clears the abutment 14, permitting removal of the clasp element 2f).

In Figs. 6-48 there is shown a modified construction, wherein the housing has been generally designated at 10a. The housing 10a is identical in all respects to the housing 10 except for the fast that the notch 12a, having abutment 14a, is in communication with an elongated slot 33, extending fully from the notch 12a to the end of the sleeve remote from the notch.

A first eye 16a is formed from a length of wire material of springable characteristics, and is connected to one end of the jewelry 18. Eye 16a is arcuately shaped, extending through approximately three-quarters of a full three hundred and sixty degrees, one end of the eye having a reverse or V-bend 34 merging into an elongated, straight leg 36 which extends within and projects slightly above the slot 33 of sleeve 10a. The other end 38 of eye 16a is welded within the sleeve. It will be seen that the end 38 and the V-bend 34 are both disposed within the sleeve, so as to insure against accidental separation of the chain 18 from the eye 16a.

The clasp element 20 in this form of the invention is completely identical to that of the first form, thus simplifying manufacturing processes, since the same clasp element can be used in both forms of the device.

In this form of the invention, the eye 16a is spring tensioned to normally dispose the leg 36 in the position shown in Fig. 6. The free end of leg 36 may be rounded to prevent scratching of ones person or tearing of clothes. The free end of leg 36 overlies the tinger 32 of the clasp element, in the inserted position of the clasp element, but the leg 36 is disposed wholly out of the path of the clasp element when the clasp element is being inserted.`

When the clasp element has been fully inserted, one will note that the finger 32 will lockably engage against the abutment 14a in the same manner as in the first form of the invention.

If at this time it is desired to separate the components of the clasp, one need merely exert a slight downward pressure against the leg 36, causing the leg 36 to swing downwardly to the Fig. 7 position, against the tension of the spring eye 16a. The leg 36, on swinging downwardly, bears against the iinger 32, and this causes the leg to be biased inwardly, to cause the finger 32 to clear the abutment 14a. The clasp element 20 can then be removed in the same manner as in the first form of the invention.

The form shown in Figs. 6-8 may under some circumstances be desired in preference to the form of Figs. 1-5, although both work with full efiiciency in providing a swiftly lockable and easily separated clasp for jewelry. The second Vform of the invention may be desired if one does not desire to use the thumb nail for the purpose of opening a jewelry clasp, since one need merely depress leg 36.

Both forms of the device have the desirable characteristics that they permit manufacturing at low cost, and

further, there is present in both forms of the invention the desirable characteristic that the clasp is relatively inconspicuous, can be made at low cost, can be readily repaired, will not open accidentally, will resist effortsI toward opening of the clasp without the knowledge of the: wearer, but will nevertheless be capable of being opened with little difficulty when the wearer desires to remove: the jewelry.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that l do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent l. A jewelry clasp comprising a sleeve having a notch forming an abutment, means at one end of the sleeve for attaching one end of a piece of jewelry thereto, and a clasp element adapted for connection to the other end of said piece and formed with a depressible spring finger tensioned to engage against the abutment within the` notch in the inserted position of the clasp element, said means comprising an eye formed from a length of spring material, said eye being arcuately shaped and projecting beyond one en'd of the sleeve for connection to said piece of jewelry, the eye being connected at one end fixedly within the sleeve, the other end of the eye being integrally forrned with an elongated, straight leg extending generally parallel to the length of the sleeve and having a free end overlying the spring finger in the abutment-engaged position of the finger, for movement of the finger out of engagement with the abutment responsive to depression of the sprin'g leg.

2. A jewelry clasp comprising a sleeve having a notch forming an abutment, means at one end of the sleeve for attaching one end of a piece of jewelry thereto, and a clasp element adapted for connection' to the other end of said piece and formed with a depressible spring finger tensioned to engage against the abutment within the notch in the inserted position of the clasp elemen't, said means comprising an eye formed from a length of spring material, said eye being arcuately shaped and projecting beyond one end of the sleeve for connection to said piece of jewelry, the eye bein'g connected at one end iixedly within the sleeve, the other end of the eye being integrally formed with an elongated, straight leg extending generally parallel to the length of the sleeve and having a free end overlying the spring finger in' the abutmentengaged position of the finger, for movement of the finger out of engagement with the abutment responsive to depression of the spring leg, the sleeve having a longitudinal slot extending fully from the notch to said one end of the sleeve, for receiving the spring leg.

3. A jewelry clasp comprising a sleeve having a notch forming an abutment, means at one end of the sleeve for attaching one end of a piece of jewelry thereto, and a clasp element adapted for connection to the other end of said piece and formed with a depressible spring finger tensioned to engage against the abutment within the notch in the inserted position of the clasp element, said means comprising an eye formed from a length of spring material, said eye being arcuately shaped and projecting beyond one en'd of the sleeve for connection to said piece of jewelry, the eye being connected at one end fixedly within the sleeve, the other end of the eye being integrally formed with an elongated, straight leg extending generally parallel to the len'gth of the sleeve and having a free end overlying the spring finger in the abutmentengaged position of the finger, for movement of the finger out of engagement with the abutment responsive to depression of the sprin'g leg, the sleeve having a longitudinal slot extending fully from the notch to said one end of the sleeve, for receiving the spring leg, the eye being ten-v 5 sioned to normally dispose said spring ieg out of the path 1,371,210 of movement of the clasp element during insertion and removal of the clasp element from the sleeve. 3 048 References Cited in the le of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 392:235 848,972 Costello Apr. 2, 1907 676,151 921,846 Kerley May 18, 1909 1,106,233

6 King Mar. 8, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 8, 1904 Great Britain 1907 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1926 France Sept. 19, 1908 France Nov. 18, 1929 France July 13, 1955 

